Chapter 364: Private Martial Union (2)
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“……By the way, is it alright to say that here?”
Namgung Jin-hyeon asked while trying to stay as calm as possible, but his voice was already thick with bewilderment.
The Private Martial Union strictly belonged to the Palace of Heavenly Worship, that was to say, the Imperial Palace. To talk about overthrowing the Imperial Palace right in front of people from the Imperial Palace.
“Hehehe.”
In this situation where everyone was watching each other’s expressions, someone let out a low chuckle. It was Jang Gwang-yeong, who was chugging directly from a bottle between the Dark Exalt and me.
“I thought I lived quite recklessly, but I can’t beat you. To discuss treason in a place like this.”
Jang Gwang-yeong giggled as he picked up meat with his hand to eat. Even though chopsticks had been prepared, a former bandit could not help his nature.
“Yet you aren’t someone who lives thoughtlessly like me. If anything, you’re someone who thinks too much. There must be a reason you said that here.”
I agreed with the notion that Jang Gwang-yeong lived thoughtlessly, but that did not mean he was ignorant or foolish. One could say his insight based on intuition was just that sharp. Even now, while everyone else was flustered, he alone saw through the situation.
“You saw accurately.”
“Then I am curious about what you gain by saying that. What you stand to lose seems quite clear.”
“What is there to lose by talking about that? All within the four seas are comrades.”
“You say such things without batting an eye. We could immediately report you to the Imperial Palace or overturn this place right now, could we not? If we were people filled with loyalty toward the Imperial Palace. Like the current Union Leader, that is.”
“So the Private Martial Union Leader is that kind of person.”
“Well, he’s a fellow who became Union Leader through political acumen rather than martial strength. He’s extraordinarily good at finding where to rub his backside.”
Jang Gwang-yeong chuckled. Since he had shared information to that extent, it was my turn to answer without dodging any further.
“I had certainty.”
“What certainty?”
“Certainty that the two of you, Dark Exalt and Fighting Exalt, deeply dislike the current path of the Private Martial Union.”
“Don’t tell me you judged that simply because I voiced a little dissatisfaction?”
The Dark Exalt, who had come to his senses belatedly, intervened.
“When you belong to a faction, it is only natural for dissatisfaction to arise as a member. To utter such words because of something so minor seems hasty.”
“Words are not important. What matters more than a hundred words is a single action. And as a result of that action, did not the two of you come here?”
“What if that was the Private Martial Union Leader’s judgment? Could there not have been an order to observe the internal situation of the New Justice Association?”
“Then I simply misjudged the situation.”
I smiled faintly. The Dark Exalt and Fighting Exalt simultaneously gave hollow laughs.
“To gamble based on a single intuition. You are quite something.”
“A dangerous fellow.”
From their perspective, they had no choice but to think that way. Because they did not know that I possessed the Heavenly Eye.
The Heavenly Eye clearly showed that they had dissatisfaction with the Private Martial Union, and I merely acted accordingly. Of course, that too was a gamble if called a gamble. However, rather than a dangerous gamble as others thought, it was simply a confident bet.
Without knowing that, people clicked their tongues thinking I had tremendous audacity. But since being misunderstood that way was not bad for me, I felt no need to correct it.
“When you said those words, please consider my startled heart as well. It feels like three years have been shaved off my lifespan.”
Namgung Jin-hyeon stroked his chest. Without Tae-seong, he was the sole insider of the New Justice Association. Naturally, he could not help but be on high alert at my remarks.
“So what are the thoughts of the two of you? I want to hear the result of our Association Master’s gamble quickly.”
Namgung Jin-hyeon urged. The Dark Exalt rolled his eyes around. The Fighting Exalt kept his mouth shut, finding it amusing to watch the Dark Exalt’s reaction.
“It seems I should hand over the title of Dark Exalt to you. Even I have never carried out an assassination so well-designed until now.”
The Dark Exalt admitted. In a way, the current situation might feel to him like an assassination trap.
In truth, he had merely come because he wanted to exchange blows with me as a martial artist, so he would not have imagined that it would decide the future direction the person known as Dark Exalt should take.
Without the Heavenly Eye, all sorts of thoughts must surely be crossing his mind. Though the conclusion could roughly be anticipated.
“Do you know why the name Private Martial Union was created?”
Jang Gwang-yeong spoke as he wiped the liquor around his mouth.
“Isn’t that because putting the character for ‘unorthodox’ into an Imperial Palace organization would look somewhat unsightly?”
“Of course, that was the starting point. But there were other candidates as well. Originally, the Union Leader pushed for the Black Moon Association.”
“That sounds a bit more like an unorthodox sect.”
“Indeed. So that while preserving the identity of unorthodox sects, the identity of the Private Martial Union would also carry on. But I and that fellow over there opposed it.”
Jang Gwang-yeong pointed at the Dark Exalt. The Dark Exalt feigned ignorance.
“Why?”
“From the moment unorthodox martial artists joined hands with the Imperial Palace in the first place, we thought the identity of the Private Martial Union was ruined. Think about it. Does it make any sense for us, who manage brothels to collect money and rob merchant companies to fill our bellies, to join hands with the Imperial Palace?”
“According to standard logic, that is true. But we are not living in an era that flows according to standard logic right now, are we?”
Though they might not know it right now, the Imperial Palace had joined hands with the Blood Cult, a branch of the Demonic Cult, and the same was true for me. Orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic were mixed together, coexisting while losing their respective identities.
“That is what’s wrong. We too have our own orthodoxy. Right now, one might wonder what philosophy there is in extorting money from merchant ships or merchant companies, but think about it. If only noble orthodox sects existed in this world, how would the world turn? Where would the peasants exploited by orthodox sects flow? As the Green Forest Stronghold Chief, I can assert that more than half of the Green Forest bandits were ordinary fathers or sons.”
“I understand.”
I too was someone who did not believe in absolute good and absolute evil. There merely existed tendencies. There was no one who was always good, nor could anyone always perform good deeds. An action that was good to someone could also become an evil action to someone else.
“We exist in that place where the Imperial Palace and orthodox sects do not look after. The brothels and neighborhood ruffians that orthodox sects do not touch for fear of lowering their prestige. Even as unorthodox sects, would we not share affection with them while managing brothels? Would we not clink a cup of liquor while taking in ruffians? Would we not exchange greetings with the merchant companies we meet in the mountains? Every person we encounter is a karmic tie. How could the web of gratitude and grudge bypass only unorthodox sects?”
Unlike the Dark Exalt and me, who alternately expelled our drunkenness, Jang Gwang-yeong seemed already tipsy. To be sure, since he had chosen to drink strong liquor as soon as he sat down, it was only natural.
“You spoke well. Right now is not an era that flows by standard logic. The Union Leader compromised with the era, and accordingly, our orthodoxy vanished as well. Of course, the Union Leader must have his reasons too. If he didn’t attach himself to either the New Justice Association or the Imperial Palace right now, he was on the verge of vanishing.”
“It is that classic dilemma. Understandable with the head, but unacceptable to the heart.”
“That’s right. Just as only orthodox sects or only unorthodox sects shouldn’t exist in the world, people who compromise shouldn’t be the only ones to exist, nor should stubborn old men crying out for orthodoxy like me be the only ones to exist. In the end, all I can do is raise my voice and act like myself.”
“You are correct. But how did our conversation flow all the way here?”
“……What was it again.”
Jang Gwang-yeong’s large eyes rolled around. The Dark Exalt sighed and added words.
“The name of the Private Martial Union.”
“Ah. That’s right. Yes. In any case, the word ‘private martial’ means individual martial arts. But in my opinion, even if martial arts seem extremely personal, they ultimately must resonate with others. No matter how much one practices forms and cultivates internal energy in deep mountains and secluded valleys for a hundred years, can one defeat a wandering rogue who has seen human blood for ten years? One cannot.”
“Then that word ‘private martial’ was an expression of dissatisfaction toward the Union Leader?”
“Expression of dissatisfaction, you say. It’s a bit different from that. As I said earlier, I understand the Union Leader. So let us each cultivate our own martial arts now. It meant: since I understand you, you should understand me too. As individuals.”
I did not know there was such a long story behind the name Private Martial Union. Nor did I know that there was someone in the unorthodox sects who possessed such deep insight into their own identity.
The Dark Exalt was also quietly closing his eyes, but he must have pushed for the name Private Martial Union in agreement with the Fighting Exalt’s words.
And that name remained as the gap between those who wanted to become the Black Moon Association and those who wanted to remain the Private Martial Union.
“If so, it seems I brought up the topic well.”
I smiled. Immediately, the Dark Exalt turned serious and shook his head.
“Even if we have half turned our backs on the Private Martial Union Leader, colluding with the New Justice Association is another matter entirely. There are still many comrades within the Private Martial Union who follow us. In my case, it’s just a few assassins, but isn’t that fellow the Green Forest Chief who rules all seventy-two strongholds of the Green Forest? We cannot simply wipe our mouths and cross over.”
“At least there will be no chance of reporting me.”
“That would be pointless. Because I believe all this trouble arose because the Imperial Palace made unnecessary interventions. Even if the Emperor’s surname changes right now, there won’t be any major change in my life anyway.”
The Dark Exalt also began chugging directly from the bottle and started pouring out frank remarks. In any case, opening their hearts with two giants of the Private Martial Union like this was a great achievement for me in itself.
“The New Justice Association will wait. And if we overturn the Imperial Palace, I also promise the normalization of the martial world.”
“……I will consider it.”
In any case, the bait had been cast. Whether to take it or not was their choice.
“It has become quite an uncomfortable seat.”
Now all that remained was Gakwon, who was sober. Gakwon was wearing an awkward smile. Did not Shaolin Temple also belong to the Palace of Heavenly Worship? But in the first place, I had not paid much mind to Gakwon. Because a proper Shaolin monk would not commit the act of reporting me to the Imperial Palace. That was something I had felt since exchanging blows in martial arts, not just through the Heavenly Eye.
“Even so, it was a conversation that gave me much to think about as well. Thank you for the fine words. Amitabha.”
Gakwon pressed his palms together and conveyed his gratitude to us.
Although we were currently divided, at this moment, we were united as individual martial artists. We were not people unrefined enough to praise ourselves by putting that into words.
“I unnecessarily brought up an uncomfortable topic. From now on, shall we comfortably enjoy the real banquet?”
I clapped my hands. The other people smiled wryly. It had already become a gathering where being comfortable was out of the question, but as the host, I had to at least say so.
My wish was not even realized. Because Namgung Hwi rushed into the banquet hall urgently without even giving notice.
“Why?”
Namgung Hwi could not even think of greeting his father, Namgung Jin-hyeon, whom he had not seen in a long time, and whispered in my ear.
“……Mmm.”
And hearing those words, I let out a groan. Because it was indeed news that warranted Namgung Hwi acting like this.
“What is it?”
Namgung Jin-hyeon asked uneasily.
“It seems we will not be able to enjoy the banquet any further.”
I gave an awkward smile.
“They say the Private Martial Union Leader has personally come to visit.”
That was a visit that not only I, but everyone present in this room had not anticipated.